You might think that corporate ownership of radio stations and streaming services means that everybody everywhere listens to the same music. While there’s some truth to that, there are significant local differences when it comes to popular songs, with top hits differing from state to state and from city to city. (This is the most popular song every year since 1970.)
Apple Music’s City Charts tracks the top songs in some 100 cities worldwide, including 19 in the U.S. 24/7 Tempo has reviewed Apple Music’s data from those cities, which is based on a combination of number of plays and additional signs of local popularity, to determine each one’s most popular current recordings. The cities are here ordered by population.
One standout is “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black. It’s the most popular song in cities across the country, including Dallas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. It was released in October 2021 as the lead single from the compilation “Sniper Gang Presents Syko Bob & Snapkatt: Nightmare Babies” and is included on Kodak’s fourth studio album, “Back for Everything.” (These are the best-selling artists for digital singles.)
Another biggie is “Something in the Way” by Nirvana. Written by frontman Kurt Cobain, it was recorded more than 30 years ago. However, it received a new lease on life when it appeared on the trailer and soundtrack for “The Batman.” It’s the top song in cities such as Austin, Denver, and Phoenix. (Here is the most popular movie soundtrack since 1980.)
Click here to see the top songs in 19 major U.S. cities
Also noteworthy is “City of Gods” by Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys. It’s the No. 1 song in New York. Perhaps that’s not surprising as it uses the chorus from the 2015 Chainsmokers song “New York City.”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
19. Birmingham, AL
> Top local song: “Starlight” by Dave
> Other top songs: “Peru” by Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran; “Where Are You Now” by Lost Frequencies & Calum Scott; “Down Under (feat. Colin Hay)” by Luude
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Source: Steven Ferdman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
18. Honolulu, HI
> Top local song: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “Freaky Deaky” by Tyga & Doja Cat; “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future
Source: Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images
17. Miami, FL
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future; “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G; “I Wish” by Kodak Black
Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
16. Atlanta, GA
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “Banking On Me” by Gunna; “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future; “Hrs and Hrs” by Muni Long
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Source: Rachel Murray / Getty Images
15. Nashville, TN
> Top local song: “Thinking… (feat. Juicy J)” by Kevin Gates
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “Rocking A Cardigan in Atlanta” by LIL SHORDIE SCOTT; “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
14. Detroit, MI
> Top local song: “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future; “Hrs and Hrs” by Muni Long
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
13. Washington, D.C.
> Top local song: “Banking On Me” by Gunna
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk; “Hrs and Hrs” by Muni Long
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
12. Denver, CO
> Top local song: “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto; “Thinking… (feat. Juicy J)” by Kevin Gates
Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
11. Seattle, WA
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk; “War” by King Von; “pushin P (feat. Young Thug)” by Gunna & Future
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Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images
10. San Francisco, CA
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G; “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto; “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
Source: Photo by Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
9. Austin, TX
> Top local song: “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
> Other top songs: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G; “Thinking… (feat. Juicy J)” by Kevin Gates
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
8. Dallas, TX
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “I Hate YoungBoy” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again; “Thinking… (feat. Juicy J)” by Kevin Gates; “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
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Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
7. San Diego, CA
> Top local song: “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
> Other top songs: “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G; “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto; “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images
6. Philadelphia, PA
> Top local song: “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk
> Other top songs: “War” by King Von; “Evil Twins” by King Von & Lil Durk; “Facetime (feat. G Herbo)” by King Von
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Source: Guillermo Legaria / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
5. Phoenix, AZ
> Top local song: “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
> Other top songs: “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G; “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black; “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto
4. Houston, TX
> Top local song: “Super Gremlin” by Kodak Black
> Other top songs: “I Hate YoungBoy” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again; “P power (feat. Drake)” by Gunna; “Something In The Way” by Nirvana
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
3. Chicago, IL
> Top local song: “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk
> Other top songs: “War” by King Von; “Facetime (feat. G Herbo)” by King Von; “Evil Twins” by King Von & Lil Durk
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
2. Los Angeles, CA
> Top local song: “MAMIII” by Becky G. & KAROL G
> Other top songs: “Something In The Way” by Nirvana; “DÁKITI” by Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez; “Vete” by Bad Bunny
Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
1. New York, NY
> Top local song: “City of Gods” by Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys
> Other top songs: “Hit Different” by A Boogie wit da Hoodie & B-Lovee; “Banking On Me” by Gunna; “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk
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